Muscle and detail in 1/64 scale? Yes, from Auto World

Hats off to Round 2 and its Auto World line of TRUE 1/64 scale cars — muscle cars and newer models — all offered at modest prices for collectors to augment their collections.

These are new tools, and Auto World is taking a unique strategy with 1960s muscle cars and other classics, plus some of those classics' newer counterparts. It is offering 1/64 scale cars with better detail than in the Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars that flood the market. Yet these cars come in at three attractive price points: $2.99, $5.99, and $6.99.

The TRUE lineup includes cars with accurately scaled wheels and tires, even at the $2.99 entry point. These have diecast bodies, but plastic chassis with free-rolling hard wheels. All are nicely displayed and sold on blister cards. Detailing is good with painted headlights and taillights and logos, plus accurate hood and air scoops, such as on our 2013 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible and 1984 Camaro Z28 samples. The underbodies are also detailed, showing suspensions, transmissions, and engines. The interiors are mildly detailed. Doors and hoods don't open, but these toys are realistic-looking and could be collected, or kids could play with them.

Auto World edges the price up to $5.99 for a version that's better for collectors. These feature diecast bodies and chassis, plus hoods that open to reveal modestly detailed engines. Our sample 1966 Chevy Impala SS features an orange block, black circular air filter, radiator, belts, and pulleys. The 1969 Pontiac Trans Am's engine is silver with a black air filter. These models also have rubber tires, two-piece knurled axles, and slightly better interior and trim detail, plus they come with a box with the car's picture on it. These remind me very much of Matchbox cars and their boxes back in the 1960s. Customers can store the car in the box.

The final level at $6.99 features cars with a licensed tie-in — the first release being cars that appeared in Car and Driver and Road & Track magazines. Their detail level is the same as the $5.99 models, but each comes with a plastic display case.

Auto World offers something for everyone so that collectors, young and old, can enjoy good detail at an affordable price. That means you could buy each level's entire series of six.